Despite repeated pleas from residents, students, and teachers, the road leading to Garpawoong Middle Secondary School in Samdrup Jongkhar remains in poor condition. The deteriorated road continues to disrupt daily commutes and poses safety risks.
Two administrations manage an over three-kilometre stretch of road. While Samdrup Jongkhar Thromde has blacktopped around 1.5 kilometres of the road, the remaining section under Dewathang Gewog remains neglected.
The unmaintained stretch is riddled with potholes, an eroded surface and water flowing over it, making travel difficult and dangerous, especially during the rainy season. The road not only serves the school but also connects around nine households in Bangtsho Chiwog to the rest of the district.
“The portion under the gewog is in terrible shape. We don’t know who is responsible. Neither the gewog administration nor the school is taking care of it. We are struggling,” said Tempa Wangdi, a resident.
“The road here is like a parent caring for one child and neglecting the other. The thromde’s part is maintained, but the gewog’s side is full of potholes and lacks drainage. We can’t even transport our farm produce properly,” said Jigme, a farmer who uses the road mostly to transport his farm produce.
The issue was also raised during the recent Dzongkhag Tshogdu.
Dewathang Gup Karma Dema said, “Thromde maintained it once but they received an audit memo and stopped. The gewog administration does not have the budget; we have only Nu 7 M and are only allowed to use it for primary schools. Middle and high school roads fall under the district’s responsibility. We could say it is not our responsibility, but in the end, it is our children and people who suffer.”
The District Education Sector said it could not carry out road maintenance due to a limited budget. However, they have submitted budget proposals to both the Ministry of Education and Skills Development and the district administration.
Chief Education Officer Thinley said, “If we do not receive funds from the ministry, we have also proposed a budget at the dzongkhag level in the current financial year. We are hoping that we will get a budget, and if approved, we will start the maintenance work within two to three months.”
The Dzongkhag Tshogdu has instructed the District Education Sector to raise the issue to the agriculture and livestock minister, who oversees both Samdrup Jongkhar and Pema Gatshel.
Until sufficient funding is secured, students, teachers, and villagers will continue to endure the risks and inconveniences posed by the road.
Kinley Wangchuk, Samdrup Jongkhar
Edited by Sangay Chezom
